Not hear from me for some days right?
Oh, I am working hard everyday, no messing around!

Yesterday I got quotation from Bock the 14K gold nib for TWSBI Diamond 530. one in single gold color another in two tone colors.
My cost plus the distribution profit... the end user price will be clost to US$110 per nib for single color and US$130 per nib for two tone model.
Will this price ok? I need to collect at least 300 orders to buy the nibs from Bock.

I am thinking, since the gold nib will bring up the pen price, why not just make an high value version of the pen to make it complete. how about
1. pen with 14k gold nib (single color or two tone?)
2. pen with HIGH VOLUME ink capacity, about 40% more ink
3. pen with aluminium piston mechanism
4. pen with solid brass clip (not the existing stamping parts)
5. pen with improved cap thread for smooth thread in and out
6. pen with metal parts plated with 14K gold or rose gold
Due to the increase in cost, the retail price will go up to about US$280. I don't know if this be fine. I need your comments.

To proceed with the project, I need to collect at least 300 orders. please leave comments in the thread.
If you like to pre-order, write me at speedy@twsbi.com. leave me your name, email, address, want nib (size) or complete pen.
you don't need to pay me anything until pen comes out.

i think you would be better off to create a separate model. I think many people would look at the version with the gold nib and think its just a version with a gold nib and a few "extras," making it hard to justify the over $200 price difference.

i think you would be better off to create a separate model. I think many people would look at the version with the gold nib and think its just a version with a gold nib and a few "extras," making it hard to justify the over $200 price difference.

I agree. The premium of the gold nib over the normal version is too steep. There should be a different model, which means... another TWSBI to look forward to!

Also - I would agree it may make sense to make it a "different" model somehow (like the Pelikan line, where they have other differentiators beyond the nib/parts), either with limited colors, or some slight design changes...

With Pelikan as the clearest example, you might also want to think about a "mid"-line pen, either just with the gold nib or a few other pieces in the $100-$150 range, so that you can allow buyers to proceed in steps (buying all 3!), and more clearly show the steps.

Yeah, I am kinda in the boat with the others. An extra $200 for a dressed up model would be hard to justify (especially when the final price works out to be over a week's pay for me). I'd be all over a dressier 530 though, if it wasn't such a big difference in price. The idea of an aluminum piston mechanism, solid clip, more ink and improved cap does sound great though. I'd buy one of those, even if it was with the regular steel nib.

I took it as the nib alone would cost $110-130, bringing the total pen price to $150-170, unless you went with the fancy luxury version.

I agree. I believe he is saying that the NIB UNIT alone would be $110 or $130. You would then be able to attach that nib to the current pen unit you have. Or he could do an ENTIRELY NEW pen and make it in the $280 range.

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